Select, Copy, and Paste Coming to the iPhone?

[Benjamindaines]

Seems like there is evidence of some type of text / object selecting in Safari. As you see here, on the Facebook iPhone page if you hold your finger down on the search field's X various things seem to get highlighted.

(Various things blurred for privacy reasons)

 

[pavvento]

Seems like there is evidence of some type of text / object selecting in Safari. As you see here, on the Facebook iPhone page if you hold your finger down on the search field's X various things seem to get highlighted.

(Various things blurred for privacy reasons)

maybe it's the blurry picture but it just looks like the magnifying class to me.

 

[Andrew.s]

They're talking about the X icon itself, facebook, and the icons to the left being highlighted.

 

[mcdj]

Probably just something to do with the way Facebook is coded. It doesn't happen on other sites. And if it were a preview of copy/paste, it would probably mean copy/paste would only work with sites that were coded for it...not a very viable solution.

 

[fromthineyes]

... why would they have a highlighting option for pictures?
that seems next to useless to me.

maybe if the text had been highlighted...



I can't wait for this ability. It drives me insane that I can't do it.

Maybe this way, I wouldn't have to type out the same sms twelve times for twelve different people, either. Or better yet, just give us a multiple address Steve!

 

[nickspohn]

Probably just something to do with the way Facebook is coded. It doesn't happen on other sites. And if it were a preview of copy/paste, it would probably mean copy/paste would only work with sites that were coded for it...not a very viable solution.

coded for copy/paste?

 

[Kev1000000]

That is completely photoshopped.

 

[Benjamindaines]

That is completely photoshopped.

Yeah, the blurring is. How about you try it and see what happens?

 

[projectle]

It is legit.
Just try it!

Has no practical use at the moment, but it definitely is a highlight, and is also usable on other pages including Apple's WebApp Directory.

 

[Telp]

Legit. Just did it right now. Its great, but still it doesnt stay. I hope its proof that something is coming tho!! =D

How did you get it to work on the apple site?

 

[ivi7]

I hope Apple is working on copy and paste. Its a must have for the iPhone.

 

[Telp]

I hope Apple is working on copy and paste. Its a must have for the iPhone.

Im sure they are. They almost have to. Sorta...

But seriously, with the announcement of a real SDK the skys the limit!!

 

[ivi7]

Im sure they are. They almost have to. Sorta...

But seriously, with the announcement of a real SDK the skys the limit!!

It just makes it so exciting. There are so many applications I would love to have on my iPhone and now all that can come true.

 

[chr1s60]

I don't think this is actually a copy and paste preview, but more likey just a coincidence. There will likely be a copy/paste eventually, the way this week has been it could be tomorrow and I wouldn't be surprised. Leopard on Monday, iToner and SDK today. Why not copy/paste tomorrow? Doubful, but I can still wish for it can't I.

 

[Telp]

I don't think this is actually a copy and paste preview, but more likey just a coincidence. There will likely be a copy/paste eventually, the way this week has been it could be tomorrow and I wouldn't be surprised. Leopard on Monday, iToner and SDK today. Why not copy/paste tomorrow? Doubful, but I can still wish for it can't I.

I doubt they would say anytihng about it in an unofficial release, but im sure if they were to release it they would state it in there mini "whats new with this update" quote.

 

[Island Dog]

Well regardless of this, I sure hope it comes soon.

 

[firstapple]

I tested and tried what Ben says, and it does the same thing on my phone... I have 1.1.1, does it do the same thing to phones running 1.0.2? Could be an apple preview of what is coming in next update, since I am sure many people are asking for this easy function in apple's feedback.

 

[Avatar74]

Move along... nothing to see here.

You're not seeing a feature exposed in Safari so much as you're seeing a consequence of the way Facebook's iphone page is coded:

<html>
<head>
<title>Facebook | Login</title>
<meta id="viewport" name="viewport" content="width=320; initial-scale=1.0; maximum-scale=1.0; user-scalable=0;"/><link rel="stylesheet" href="fb.css?12:61683" type="text/css"/>
</head>

<body onload="setTimeout(scrollTo, 0, 0, 1)">
<div class="toolbar1 chrome">
<img src="images/facebook.png"/>

</div>

My guess is Safari is treating the Facebook.png as an href link that goes nowhere. Notice what happens when you touch other images that are actually hyperlinked? That's right, they get highlighted briefly.

Thank you, come again.

P.S. No you can't replicate this in a non iPhone browser on a desktop because Safari on Mac desktops doesn't create a translucent box highlight around the hyperlink being selected... only iPhone does. But you can verify this by putting your finger on a dead hyperlink on any other page.